Aeroplane brake



Aug. 26, 1930. J. M. LIGHT AEROPLANE BRAKE Filed Aug, 13, 1929 4sheets-sheet 1 Inventor r] Wr l Attorney Aug. 26, 193.0.- J. M. LIGHTAEROPLANE BRAKE F'il'ed Aug. 13,. 1929 4 Sheefs-Sfieet 2 JN I 4W 8 m QMUu N :3 4%

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Inventor flin A tt orne y Aug. 26, 1930. J. M. LIGHT I "l "77 4, )63

I AEROPLANE BRAKE I Filed Aug. 13. 1929 4 Sheets-Shet 3 In venior Atiomey Aug. 26, 1930. M, Liam 1,774,063

AEROPLANE BRAKE Filed Aug.- 13. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor {Mar/5 QAiiofncy Patented Aug. 26,1930 a a I i Jem -v MARK LIGHT, or :Annvrnm,PENNSY VANIA 7 i V A ROPLANE'BR K Application filed August =13, i929.Seria1}'No;h38:5,67 '5.

The present invention relates to a brake tube5through themediurnbfspring hingesb. "for heavier than aircraft and hasfor its The plates Gofthe funnel havethe'ir adprime object to provide an apparatuso'f thisjaeent edges disposed in overlapping rela-' naturewhich may be used 'toadvantageon tion and each of said plates adjacent its outer aeroplanesand other heavier than air craft or free edge and extending inwardlyfrom so as to break the speed of the air'craftivhen one sideed'gefthereof is provided With a slot nosing downwardly in making a.landing or a; While n*the"o-1 3positeside edge adjacent the likejasbecomes necessary atjtiinesto preits free end each of the said platesections b is vent crashes,"accidents and thelike. provided'with a pin0' adapted forsliding 1 1o i rnotherivery'iinportantobjectof theinmovement in. tlesl t the heXtadjaLcent I vention resides in theprovision of a braking funnelfpl'a-te 6; 1

- I action of this nature Which is-siihple in its The' sp'ring hinges?)will manifestly norconstructi'on, strong'and durable, con pact v mallyurge the plate. section (3 of the funnel and convenient itsarrangementof parts, outwardly to that position illustrated in Fig- 15easy to manipulate, thoroughly efiicient and Life/ 3. V I

reliable in use and operation, and otherwise A spider like frame 9isjinounted inqthe Well adapted to the purposefor which it is front orlarger end of the casing? and has designed; I a bearing 10 at thecenterthereoi: A gear With the above and numerous other objects housing 11 ismounted in the central portion in view asvwill appearas the descriptionpr of-thetubefi' beinglfixed therein by means of ceeds, the inventionresides in certain novel i HSB 12 and he rear end 'of he casing 7 fitsfeatures of construction, and'inthe combina- Over the from? portiorfof hhousing 11 tion and arrangement of parts as Will be'here- A Shaft 141.5joufllaled thTOUQh t {T0115 inafter more my described and claiinec'tporti n of thee-housing 11 and through the v g V g 7 7 bearingand'terlninates forwardly of the Figure'l is a side elevation ofa'monoplane i e 6 in: it h S p/ zp y showingmy apparatusincorporatedtherein, 9 p 'pe1 e S'16 are mounted on theshaft 14 Fi ur 2i a f nt? lev ti n th r f, I lliSPitCQCl relation to each otherlYGlfiYGGIl illlG Figure is a longitudinal section through me 9'ai1Clthe housing: 11 so that a current 3 th p rat I "of air through thecasing '7 caused by the Figure 4 is" a sectional elevation'of the f lmovementof e Z PP U l tul'h apparatus showing the parts in closed posi-I f h 14 in e direction f arrow 18 i {7 1 P Q I Y 1s na clockwisedirection when referring to Figurefi is a transverse section taken sub gv i, i i

-A conefshapednoseand closure 19 has a 35 st; ntially on the line- 5 5of Figure3, v1 1 Figure 6 a transverse section taken. sub Deanng .0 ltsp fil l 1 the forward I stantially on the line 5 -6 of Figure 3*,Portlon 0f h h and s b r g is Figure 7 is a transverse sectiontaken-sub?P i V l at its: l n h h h stentially on the line 77rof-Figure8 1 QL 21;pr s is disposdflahmlt 4i: Figure S is atransverse section taken subh iw l lofthepshafti 1 i stantially on the line .8-' 8 0f Figure 3. X P g gb g .andthe bear Referring to the drawingin'detailit will be s2 5 i1e1'y l e ose ure 19- v seen thatthe nuin'eralfi. denotes an elongated in anoben'positionas shown in Figure 3: cylindrical. tube the torwardend otwhich "A bracket arm Qtexten'ds from the spider is flared outwardly andmew-meat its frame 9"and has acatch25 pivotally engaged forward enda-i'un'nel 6.; This runners conithereon "for engaging the shoulder 21end prises a. plurality otsejctio'ns'or plates 6 each holding the noseclosure in a closed-position of hich are. substantially."V-shaped info'r- I asshoWn in Figure 4i'withthe'spring- '22 under mationincrosssection and have theirsnialler tension so that by 'pul-lin'gl a cable]26 the 5e ehdsseeured to thefi'ared outer edge oft-he catch 25 maybeswung to. free itselfi rom the .1700

shoulder 21 and the spring 22 will urge the nose closure 19 forwardlyfrom the closed position shown in Figure 4 to the open position shown inFigure 3.

Within the housing 11011 the rear end of the shaft 14 there is fixed aninternal gear 27 with which meshes a pinion 28 on a shaft 29 'journaledin bearing 30 projecting forwardly I notched as at 40.

' ing the pi opellers l6 and the shaft 14am The shaft 32 extendsrearwardlybeyond the spiderrframe34and has a spiral thread or groove 41formed thereon. A tail 42 comprises a concavogconvex front plate 43 anda concavo-convex rear plate 44. These plates are reduced in opposite,directions togetherat their periphery.

, The center oftjhe plate 43 is threaded on the threaded end .41 oftheshaft 32. The cable 26 is guided through a guide opening 47in the case12. V I

- In Figures 1 and 2 1 haveillustrated one practical installation orapplication ofthe apparatus. Two apparatuses shown, one un-i der eachside ofthe single plane and controlled by cables 26 leading, to a lever50 in the cockpit ofthe fuselage 51 under the center of'the Wings 52. r

One apparatus, ofcourse, is-at .each side of the fuselage, the noseclosure 19 is forced back to the position shown inFigure 4 and hasreceivable in its widest endthe plate 6 of the funnelG for maintainingthe plate inwardly against the action of theirv respective springhinges. thus closing the entire front end of the tube 5, and the tail 42is returned position shown in Figure 4 so as to'take the 7 that is,inwardly against the spider 34 for closing t-hetube at this end of thetube.

Whenever the dogwnward nose dive or the like ofthe aeroplane the lever'50 is actuated to pull thefea-bl-es 26 and release the catches 25 sothat the closures 1-19 anoye forwardly by the expansions I of thesprings 22, and the section plates 6 of the. funnel "are,urged-outwardly t;o an opened-pg 'tion as-sllown in Figure 3 The actionof their respective spring ghinges b so that 1 air enters the funnel andstarts rotatthe air-passesrearwardlythrough the opening 8 ,between rthetnbe band thevcasi-ng 37 th ough the spider :34 a

imn ateneees y f sa ute t Seat??? i andjointed it isQdesired to suddenlybreak rearwardly tapering rotated in the direction opposite to the shaft14 through gearing 28 and 28, the latter gear being on the fron end ofthe shaft 32 and in mesh with the gear 28 but the propellers 36 tend tosuck the air from the rear notches 40 and force it out through notches39.

The rotation of this shaft 32 will cause the tail 42 to move rearwardlybecause of the threaded end 41. Thus it will be seen that a great andeffective braking action is occasioned by the current of air set up inan automatic manner which will tend to retard the aeroplane quickly andefficiently besides bei g especially reliable under aviation conditions;

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantagesof this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in thisart without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detailmerely for the purposes of exemplilication since in actual practice itattains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in thestatement of the invention and the above description.

:It will .be apparent that changes in the details of construction, andin the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new is:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a stationary tube, ashaft journaled in the forward end of the tube and having a plurality ofpropellers thereon, a second shaft journaled in the rear portion ofthetube and having a plurality of propeller shafts thereon, meansopcratively connectin the shafts so that they will rotate in oppositedirections under the influence of air pressure.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a tube, a shaftjournaled in the forward end of the tube and having a plurality ofpropellers thereon, a second shaft journaled in the rear portion of thetube and having a plurality of propeller shafts thereon, gearingoperatively connecting the shafts so thatthey'will rotate in oppositedirections, at

using in the forward end of the tube circuinjacent the propellers on thefirst shaft.

' 3. An apparatus of the class described end of the tube circumjacentthe propellers onthe first. shaft,a housing for said gearing,

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the rear end of the eiitending over the front of the housing and havingnotches 4. An apparatus ofl the class'described, h a shaft journaled'inthe; forward end of the tube and having a plural-g ity of propellersthereon,

comprising a tube,

naled in the .re 'r'portion of the'tu'be ahdhaving a plurality: ofpropeller shafts thereon,,

gearing operatively' conn oti-ng the shafts so that they.willrotate'in'opposite directions,-a

rearwardly' taper1 g casing in the forward end of the tubecircunjiyacentthe propellers on theiirst shaft," a housing forf saidgearing,

the rear end of the casing extending over the front of the housing andhaving" notches, rearwardly. i i h the rear of'the housingfto th'e rearof the tube and having notchesin its front and i and beingcircuinjacent' the propellers on'the secondshaftf n r An/apparatus of the class[described comprising 'atube, a shaft jo'urnaled in the forward end thetube and having a plural ity of piiopellersther'eon, a second shaftjoin;

- alted in the rear portion of the tube and having "al plurality ofpropeller shafts thereon,

gearing'operatively connectingftheshafts so that they will rotate inopposite directions a rearwardly tapering casing'in' the forward V arearwardly tapering casing extending from" end of the? tube circuinmerit the therear of the housingto and having notches 1 in its front and7 rear 4 v propellers on" the'firstshaft, a housin'g for saidgearing,the rear end ofthe casing extending over the front of thehousing 'andhaving notches, a rearwardly tapering casing extending from endandbeing'circum aEent the propellers on thesecond shaft, spider framesat the front and rear'of the tube in which the shafts are journaled.

6. An apparatusjof thefclass described comprising atub'e, a shaftjournaled in 'the forward end of'the tube having a 'plu-= ralitypropellersthereon; i i jourhaled inltherear portion having 'afpluralityof propeller shafts there a second shaft of the tube and on, gearingoperatively connecting the shafts so that t-heywill rotate 1n oppos tedirections,

a rearwardly tapering cas ng in the forward end of the tube cirjcum'acent the propellers on'the first I shaft, a housing ing, the rear endthe front of the for said gear housing andhaving notches,

the'rearofthe housing tothe rear of the tube, and having notches in itsfront and formed with a bearing at its-apex slidablef on the first shaftwhich extends forwardly beyond the frontspider, aspring on'the" rear'end andifbeing circurnjacent the pro-- pellers on thesecondshaft,sp1der frames at the front and rear ofthe tube in which the shaftsare journaled, a conical closure for the front end of the tube, saidclosure being first shaft tending to hold the closure norprising atube,ashaftjournaled 1n a second shaft ]ouronggearing tapering casingextending from 7 rear end front and rear end the propellers on normallyin the rear of the'tube of tllQ IQZLSUlg extending over I tending,

mally'in an open forward'position, releasableine'ansfor holding theclosure in area'rward closed position. j u

7, 'An apparatus of the class described coin I the forwardendof the tubeand having a plurality of p'ropellers'thereon, a second shaft I in therear portion of the tube and journaled havinga plurality of propellershafts thereso that they will-rotate in opposite directions, arearwardlytapering casing in the forward end of the tube circui'njacent thepr'opellersi on the-first shaft, a housingfor said gearing, the rearend. of the casing extending overlthe front'of the housing and havingnotches, a rearwardly tapering casing operatively connecting the shaftsextending from the rear of thehousing to the rear of 'thetube and iavingnotches in, its

the second shaft,

v spider frames at the front and rear of the tube in which the shaftsare journalech-a' conical closure for the front endzof'the tube, saidclo sure being'fornied withla bearing at its apex shdableon the forwardend of the tube and" having p1u rality of'propellers thereom-a secondshaft" I journaled in the rear portion" of the tube and 'liaving aplurality, of propeller shafts there on, gearing operatively connectingthe shafts sothat they will rotate inopposite directions, a rearwardlytaperiu'g-caslng in and being circuinyacentx a shaft journaled in the 05the forward endof the tube circuiny'acent the propellers 011' the firstshaft, a housing ing, the rear endof thecasing extending forsaidfgearv Ithe frontspider, a springon;

forward position, re-

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overYthe front ,of' the housing and having notches, a re arwardlytapering -casing ex from the rearof the housingto rear of I front andrear end and being circunijacent frames at" the front and rear the thetubeand' having notches in its 12o the propellers on the second shaft,spider of the tube in which the shafts are journaled', a conical Iclosurelfor the. front end of closure b eingl'forined VVllill a bearingat its apelxflslidable on the firstsha ft whichfextends dth'e frontspider,.a spring r t. c.

" "ft: tending to hold the closure forwar nor na leasableineansforholding the closure in the tube, said I In Open jfo lfw'ard positiog Idisposed against the rear rearward closed extending rearwardly of therear .spider and threaded, a tail closure .threadedly mounted on thesecond shaft and normally rear end of the tube, but beingniovedrearwardly to an open pos t on by the rotationof the second shaft thefront end of the tube i i 7 merging into a forwardly flaring funnel.

9. An apparatus oft-he class" descr bed comprising a tube, a shaftjournaled in the forward end offthe tubeandhavinga plurality ofpropellers t'l iereon, a second shaft Journaled in the rear portion of,thetube and having a plurality of propeller shafts there on,gearing,operatively.connecting the shafts so that they will rotate inopposite directions,

. a rearwart ly tapering casing'in the forward in the widest end ofrality of propellers thereon, a second end .of the tube circumjacentithepropellers on the first shaft, a housing for said gearing, the rearendof'the casing extendingover the front of the. housing and havingnotches, a rearwardly tapering casing extending from the rear oftlie'housing to the rearof the tube and having notches in and beingcircumjacent the propellerson the second shaft, spider frames at thefront and rear of the tube in whichtheshafts are journaled, a conicalclosure for the front end of the tube, vsaid closure being formed with abearin g at its apex slidable on the first shaft which extends forwardlybeyond the front spider, a spring on the first shafttending to holdtheclosure normally in an open forward position, releasable means forholding the closure in a rearward closed position, a funnel secured tothe front end of'said first mentioned casing, said funnel comprising aplurality of sections, spring hinges securing the respective sections-tosaid end of the said first mentioned casing, a pin and slot con.-nection between the sections of the funnel adjacent the free end of thefunnel, the sec: tions of the funnel having their adjacent edgesdisposed inv overlapping relation, and said sections adapted to, benormally receiyed said closure when said closure is in a rearwardlydisposed closed. position. 1 p 10."An apparatus'of the class describedcomprising a tube, a shaft journaled in the forward end of the tube andhaving a plushaft journaled in the rear portion of the tube and having aplurality ofpropeller shaftsthereon, gearing operativelyv connectingtlie'sliafts so that they will rotate in opposite directions, arearwardly taperingcasing in the forward end of the tube circumjacentthe propellers on the first shaft, .a housing forsaid gearing,

' the rear end of the; casing extending over the front of thehousingandhavingnotches,

end

position, the second shaft spider to close :the 7 tube, the sections ,of

its front and rear end awe-nee and being .circumjacent the propellers onthe second shaft, spider frames at the front and rearof the tube inwhich the shafts are journaled a conicaliclosure for the front end ofthe tube, said closure being formed with a hearing at its apex slidableon the first shaft which extends forwardly beyond the front spider, aspring on the first shaft tending to hold the closure normally in anopen forward position, releasable means for holding the closure inarearward closed position, the second shaft extending rearwardly of therear spider and threaded, a tail closure threadedly mounted on thesecond shaft and i'iormally disposed against the rear spider to closethe rear end of the tube, but being moved rearwardly to an open positionby the rotation of the second shaft, the front end of-the tube merginginto a forwardly flaring funnel, said funnel comprising a plurality ofsections, means for hingedly. connecting the sections of the funnel tothe front end of said the funnel being disposed in overlapping relation,a pin and slotconnection between the sections and theiroverlapping'edges, said sections adapted to be received in the widestend ofsaidclosure, and spring means for normally urging the sectionsoutwardly to an open and extended position when said closure is movedforwardly to an open position as and for the purpose specified.

11. An apparatus of the class described comprising astationary tube, ashaft journaled in the forward end of the tube and having a plurality ofpropellers thereon, .a

thereon, means'operatively connecting the shafts so that they willrotate in opposite directions under the influence of H11 pressure, andselectively controlled means for rendering the propellers inoperative,said last mentioned means including closures for the opposite ends ofthe tubes. v In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN MARK LIGHT.v

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